MN, CA--Adult parishioners also need protection from predatory clergy
For immediate release Sunday, January 28, 2018
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of the Board of Directors for SNAP, the Survivors Network (925-708-6175, [email protected])
In 2016 a California priest, Father Jacob Andrew Bertrand, was charged with having sex with a Minnesota woman while celebrating a private Mass. According to Minnesota law, it is unlawful for clergy to have sex with people they are not married to while providing religious advice, even if the sex is consensual. On January 22nd the priest pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
SNAP is grateful that this priest, currently on leave from the Diocese of San Diego, will be held accountable for his actions. For a clergyman to engage in sexual activity with someone, even an adult, who looks to him for spiritual guidance carries a great potential for harm. The authority of the clergyman is such that a victim of any age cannot truly act freely.
Most states recognize the imbalance of power in therapeutic relationships and prohibit sexual activity between a psychiatrist or psychologist and a patient. A small number of states, like Minnesota, extend the same protections to those seeking help from members of the clergy. We hope that all states, including California, will someday do the same.
In the meantime, if you are an adult who was sexually abused by your minister, do not suffer alone and in silence! Make a report to the police to determine if any laws were violated, and reach out to support groups like ours for help and support.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 members. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
CONTACT
Melanie Jula Sakoda (925-708-6175, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris of St. Louis (314-503-0003, [email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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